APTOPIX Election 2026 California Governor

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he’ll change all death sentences in the state to life in prison without the possibility of parole. There are 548 people on death row in California. Newsom’s decision announced Thursday comes as he prepares to leave office after eight years. In 2019 he placed a moratorium on executions in the state but hundreds of people remained on death row. According to the state constitution, the California Supreme Court’s approval is required to grant clemency to anyone convicted of a felony more than once.